System for quench protection of superconducting machines, such as a superconducting wind turbine generator

Abstract

A quench protection system for a superconducting machine, such as a superconducting generator having a plurality of series-arranged superconducting coils, includes at least one switch heater electrically coupled to each of the superconducting coils. A quench protection switch is provided in series with the coils, wherein each switch heater is in thermal contact with the quench protection switch. A heater network is configured in parallel with the quench protection switch and is in thermal contact with each of the coils. A quench of any one of the coils triggers a quench of the quench protection switch, wherein the heater network then triggers a quench of all of the remaining coils.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A quench protection system for a superconducting machine having a plurality of superconducting coils arranged in series, comprising:
 at least one switch heater electrically coupled across each of the superconducting coils; 
 a quench protection switch configured in series with the superconducting coils, each of the switch heaters in thermal contact with the quench protection switch, the quench protection switch comprising a non-inductive superconductive switch with a superconductive wire portion and a heater portion wherein the wire portion is switched between a resistive state and a superconductive state by controlling the heater portion; 
 a heater network configured in parallel with the quench protection switch, the heater network in thermal contact with each of the coils; 
 such that a quench of any one of the superconducting coils activates the switch heater coupled therewith and the activated switch heater triggers a quench of the quench protection switch; and 
 wherein the quench of the quench protection switch activates the heater network to trigger a quench of all remaining superconducting coils. 
 
     
     
       2. The quench protection system as in  claim 1 , wherein the heater network comprises a plurality of heaters connected in parallel, with each superconducting coil in thermal contact with at least one of the heaters. 
     
     
       3. The quench protection system as in  claim 1 , wherein the heater network comprises a plurality of heaters connected in series, with each superconducting coil in thermal contact with at least one of the heaters. 
     
     
       4. The quench protection system as in  claim 1 , wherein the heater network comprises a plurality of heaters connected in parallel and a plurality of heaters connected in series, with each superconducting coil in thermal contact with at least one of the heaters. 
     
     
       5. The quench protection system as in  claim 1 , wherein the heater network comprises a single heater, with each superconducting coil in thermal contact with the single heater. 
     
     
       6. The quench protection system as in  claim 1 , further comprising a voltage clamp device across the heater network. 
     
     
       7. The quench protection system as in  claim 1 , further comprising a shielding coil applied to the quench protection switch to accelerate quenching of the heater network. 
     
     
       8. A superconducting generator, comprising:
 a plurality of superconducting field coils arranged in series; 
 a quench protection system, the quench protection system further comprising:
 at least one switch heater electrically coupled across each of the field coils; 
 a quench protection switch configured in series with the superconducting coils, each of the switch heaters in thermal contact with the quench protection switch, the quench protection switch comprising a non-inductive superconductive switch with a superconductive wire portion and a heater portion wherein the wire portion is switched between a resistive state and a superconductive state by controlling the heater portion; 
 a heater network configured in parallel with the quench protection switch, the heater network in thermal contact with each of the coils; 
 such that a quench of any one of the superconducting coils activates the switch heater coupled therewith and the activated switch heater triggers a quench of the quench protection switch; and 
 
 wherein the quench of the quench protection switch activates the heater network to trigger a quench of all remaining superconducting coils. 
 
     
     
       9. The superconducting generator as in  claim 8 , wherein the heater network comprises a plurality of heaters connected in parallel, with each superconducting coil in thermal contact with at least one of the heaters. 
     
     
       10. The superconducting generator as in  claim 8 , wherein the heater network comprises a plurality of heaters connected in series, with each superconducting coil in thermal contact with at least one of the heaters. 
     
     
       11. The superconducting generator as in  claim 8 , wherein the heater network comprises a plurality of heaters connected in parallel and a plurality of heaters connected in series, with each superconducting coil in thermal contact with at least one of the heaters. 
     
     
       12. The superconducting generator as in  claim 8 , wherein the heater network comprises a single heater, with each superconducting coil in thermal contact with the single heater. 
     
     
       13. The superconducting generator as in  claim 8 , further comprising a voltage clamp device across the heater network. 
     
     
       14. The superconducting generator as in  claim 8 , further comprising a shielding coil applied to the quench protection switch to accelerate quenching of the heater network. 
     
     
       15. The superconducting generator as in  claim 8 , wherein the superconducting generator is a wind turbine generator. 
     
     
       16. A wind turbine power generating system, comprising:
 a tower; 
 a hub, and a plurality of blades connected to the hub; 
 a rotor connected to the hub; 
 a superconducting generator coupled to the rotor, the superconducting generator further comprising: 
 a plurality of superconducting field coils arranged in series; 
 a quench protection system, the quench protection system further comprising:
 at least one switch heater electrically coupled across each of the field coils; 
 a quench protection switch configured in series with the superconducting coils, each of the switch heaters in thermal contact with the quench protection switch, the quench protection switch comprising a non-inductive superconductive switch with a superconductive wire portion and a heater portion wherein the wire portion is switched between a resistive state and a superconductive state by controlling the heater portion; 
 a heater network configured in parallel with the quench protection switch, the heater network in thermal contact with each of the coils; 
 such that a quench of any one of the superconducting coils activates the switch heater coupled therewith and the activated switch heater triggers a quench of the quench protection switch; and 
 
 wherein the quench of the quench protection switch activates the heater network to trigger a quench of all remaining superconducting coils.